While Sergio Agüero has been known to leave it even later before sparing Manchester City’s blushes in the past, he could hardly have picked a better time to offer a reminder of the devastating qualities that make him the most potent striker in the Premier League when his troublesome hamstrings are not playing up. Agüero’s first goal since 21 November was a wonderful late header that capped a stirring City fightback, earning Manuel Pellegrini’s side their first away win in almost four months and keeping them within touching distance of Arsenal.

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As long as Agüero is able to string an extended run of matches together, having been disrupted by a number of niggling injuries this season, then City will be entitled to feel that the title is theirs to lose. However that belief was heavily tested by Watford, who were left to reflect on not capitalising on a breathless spell when they had City on the ropes early on and the moment when Étienne Capoue wasted the chance to make it 2-0 shortly before Yaya Touré crashed in the equaliser with eight minutes left.

The winner arrived two minutes later, Heurelho Gomes rooted to his line as Agüero’s header looped into the top-left corner, and Quique Sánchez Flores knew that Watford had squandered a glorious opportunity. Watford’s manager could not stop apologising afterwards and while the manner of the turnaround demonstrated that City are capable of scrapping in testing circumstances, their overall performance left much to be desired. “It’s very hard, because twice in one week we have the same feeling,” said the Watford manager, referencing his side’s late defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Monday.

One of the most impressive features of Watford’s season has been their refusal to lay out the welcome mat for any visitors to Vicarage Road, as Liverpool discovered two weeks ago, and when Aleksandar Kolarov headed Ben Watson’s corner past Hart in the 55th minute, City looked ragged. They had little margin for error. Arsenal’s late victory over Newcastle United earlier in the day meant that City were six points off the top before kick-off.

The signs were ominous for City in the opening stages, with Watford determined to demonstrate that they were not cowed by their illustrious opponents. Passing the ball swiftly and sharply in midfield and using the movement, brawn and skill of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo to great effect in attack, the hosts created four clear opportunities in a frenetic opening 15 minutes.

Almen Abdi whistled a drive inches over from 20 yards and Ighalo had the clearest opportunity, spinning Nicolás Otamendi far too easily, only for Joe Hart to smother his shot. Deeney had a penalty claim waved away by Martin Atkinson, who correctly saw nothing wrong with Kolarov’s challenge, and the extent to which City miss the assurance of the injured Vincent Kompany in central defence was painfully obvious.

Ighalo clearly had the beating of Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala, while Touré, playing in a midfield two alongside Fernandinho, had his ego pricked by a couple of dainty touches from José Manuel Jurado.

City slowly came into the game as the first half wore on, Gomes keeping out efforts from Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho, and some of Watford’s early zip had disappeared by the time Allan Nyom was booked for a risible attempt to win a penalty in the 38th minute.

That shabby moment aside, Nyom embraced the challenge of marking Raheem Sterling with such relish that the City winger was replaced by Jesús Navas after 60 ineffective minutes, while there were times when Agüero looked like he was playing on one leg. The old Agüero burst failed to materialise whenever City tried to pick him out with balls over the top, and when the striker isolated Craig Cathcart on the edge of the Watford area, he was unable to slip past the centre-back and work the ball on to his right foot.

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Watford were good value for their lead when they went ahead moments after Fernandinho had missed a free header at the other end. Ighalo hassled Mangala into conceding a corner on the left – Pellegrini felt that it should have been a goal-kick – and Watson’s cross towards the near post flicked off Kolarov’s head and past Hart.

Pellegrini had to gamble. Mangala was hauled off and Wilfried Bony joined Agüero up front. Even so, the damage would have been irreparable if Capoue had shown more composure when he barrelled through and fired over with only Hart to beat.

That miss allowed Kolarov to redeem himself by sending in the corner that Touré volleyed past Gomes at the near post, before Agüero sent the travelling fans into ecstasy, expertly heading in Bacary Sagna’s cross. Agüero operated on the fringes for the majority of the contest, but he only needed half a yard to leave his mark.